Can you get into Princeton University?
Princeton, NJ · Private · 5,709 students Here is the class that got in, and where your numbers land inside it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
What it took to get in
Acceptance rate
4.6%
SAT middle 50%
1510–1580
median 1515
ACT middle 50%
34–35
median 34
Testing
Required
59% submitted an SAT
Graduation rate
97%
within six years
Common App
Accepted
Reported by the college
What Princeton University actually reads
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It is the most useful thing they say about admissions and almost nobody reads it, because knowing that an essay is very important here and class rank is not considered changes where the work should go.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Course rigor
- Essay
- Recommendations
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- Grades
- Class rank
- Test scores
- Legacy
- Work experience
From the federal IPEDS admissions survey, 2024. It records whether Princeton University considers each factor, but not how heavily, and it does not ask about extracurriculars, character, or demonstrated interest. Where a school publishes its Common Data Set we use that instead.
Deadlines · 2026 cycle
When to apply
- Restrictive Early ActionNovember 1, 2026
- Regular DecisionJanuary 1, 2027
Princeton University fills part of its class in the early round, where admit rates typically run higher. Early Decision is binding, so it only fits a clear first choice.
Real cost · 2024 data
What families actually pay
The sticker price is $84,040, but almost nobody pays it. Average net price at Princeton University by family income, after grants and scholarships:
- Under $30k$41
- $30k–$48k$352
- $48k–$75k$1,217
- $75k–$110k$4,478
- Over $110k$36,094
U.S. Department of Education data: average net price per year for aided first-time students. Your number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
More on Princeton University
About as selective
Common questions
Princeton University admissions, answered
What is Princeton University's acceptance rate?
Princeton University admits 4.6% of applicants (latest reported cycle: 2024).
What SAT score do you need for Princeton University?
The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1510 and 1580. A score above 1580 clears the 75th percentile; below 1510, the rest of the application has to carry more weight.
Is Princeton University test-optional?
No. Princeton University requires SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants for the 2026 cycle.
What does Princeton University look for in an application?
Princeton University reports that it weighs course rigor, essay, recommendations most heavily. Anything it lists as not considered is worth knowing too, because effort spent there does not count here.
How much does Princeton University actually cost?
Sticker price is $84,040, but the average family pays $6,128 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $41 per year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the Princeton University read in your plan.
Spike helps connect your numbers with courses, testing, essays, activities, and the rest of your college list.
One email when Spike opens. No card, no account. About the waitlist.